One of the photos in the exhibition featuring a WSSU student.
The photography exhibition of Sheila Pree Bright, currently on view at Diggs Gallery, has inspired the creation of an original play, which will debut at Diggs Gallery in February.
The premiere of Young Americans will be held on Feb. 4 and 6 at 7:00 p.m. and Feb. 7 at 3:00 p.m. in WSSU’s Dillard Auditorium of the Albert H. Anderson Center. The play, which is free and open to the public, was commissioned by Diggs Gallery. It is based on gallery’s current exhibition, Young Americans: Photographs by Sheila Pree Bright. The 49 large format chromogenic prints on view explore the identities of U. S. citizens and immigrants pursuing citizenship by presenting images of Americans aged 18 – 25, each posing with the American flag and revealing their unique conceptions of patriotism. Young Americans: The Performance will bring this moving exhibition to life on stage.
Written and directed by WSSU assistant professor Andre Minkins, the play is inspired by the photographs and statements from the Young Americans participants, and selected writings by Authoring Action, a youth organization headed by filmmaker Nathan Ross Freeman and Lynn Rhodes. The performance will feature spoken word and visual art collaborations by three WSSU fine arts majors, Joshua Phifer, Kolin Robinson, and Jaeson Pitt, and appearances by a team of WSSU student and community actors.
For a guided tour of the exhibition and to reserve group seating for the play, call 336-750-2458 or email our visitor services manager, Dara Silver at silverda@wssu.edu.
